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Original poster

Living by a secondary school

49 replies

BasementIdeas · 31/08/2021 06:54

Hi

We’re going to view a house which is right opposite the entrance to a secondary school

Does anyone have any experience of this? What are the main downfalls? Litter / road gridlock at start & end of the day / playground noise (is playground noise as bad at secondary as it is at primary)?

It’s a well rated all boys school if that makes a difference

Thanks

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 31/08/2021 07:02

you'll know its going to be busy with drivers between 8.15 -9.15 each day and the same 3-4pm in the afternoon. There will be some coaches picking up for stuff or dropping off for stuff in other hours

but you'll know th holidays this will not happen, so easter etc

if you have a caravan etc you will not want to leave for holidays at those times

delivery people you can want them its opposite a school

its manageable if you know whats going to happen

alphabetspagetti · 31/08/2021 07:08

I'd have a browse on their website to see what activities they have on after school and in the holidays and the times of those. Then I'd have a general Google and see what other clubs etc use the schools facilities in the evenings, at weekends and in the holidays.
The people I know who live near our local primary don't seem mind the drop off/pick up so much as they expected that. They do (or at least did in pre-Covid times) get annoyed by the disco birthday parties in the school hall at the weekend and the zumba classes which took place one evening a week. My friend near a secondary school didn't realise that all of the sports facilities are hired out to local sports clubs until 9pm during the week and from 8am at the weekend and this is for matches as well as training. Parking issues and noise!

Farwest · 31/08/2021 07:10

Noise during the day, possibly at weekends as well if it is used by clubs. The noise can be intrusive at times - PE lessons, shouting, bells going off. But then again - quiet at night!

Have a look at properties around the school. Do you notice a lot of litter? Stop by a few times at entry and exit times and see what the student behaviour is like - to be honest, I think you'll be fine with that aspect.

If I worked from home, I might worry about the noise. Same if I worked shifts and wanted to sleep outside of normal school hours. So it depends if the noise and disruption would actually impact your life much - for someone who works outside the home, fairly normal office/shop hours - no problem.

Whinge · 31/08/2021 07:10

How big is the secondary school, and does it have any facilities that might be used outside school hours? The local secondary near me has a sports hall which is often hired out for parties and exercise classes. So the disruption continues outside of school hours and during the holidays.

pianolessons1 · 31/08/2021 07:12

Go and hang out there at drop off and pickup time once school starts - how antisocial are the kids?

MattyGroves · 31/08/2021 07:14

We used to live next door to a school and opposite a pub. The school was way way noisier - but most of the noise was during the day which wasn't too bad. The teachers did have an extremely loud party every year till 2 am. They also had a malfunctioning alarm which woke us up at 3am regularly over the summer.

MrsBertBibby · 31/08/2021 07:16

I wouldn't have wanted to live near my son's secondary! But it was very big, and next door to a huge primary, and on a road that was not wide enough for all the parked cars plus buses. It's absolute chaos there morning and afternoon, and open days/parents evenings etc.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 31/08/2021 07:17

I live near one. Parking issues inc parents idling for ages (even at secondary). Litter. Some minor dickhead behaviour from kids showing off to mates (hanging from branches of trees that then come down etc). I'm not sure it'd put me off totally if the property was good.

MyOtherProfile · 31/08/2021 07:19

The great thing about living near a school is that weekends and holidays and even evenings tend to be quiet. So long as you remember not to try and leave or come home at 9 or 3.30 you should be fine but definitely go and hang out there at those times and lunchtime to see what the noise and behaviour is like.

Lots of advantages to living near a school.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 31/08/2021 07:21

We are a few minutes away. (Opposite the Primary School... in a row its the Primary, then the college, then the the Secondary)

Traffic very busy 8.15-9.15. Then 2.45-3.45.
Parents park everywhere that isn't residents only. (Which means more dangerous parking)
Litter... there is some. I regularly remove face masks from my bushes. But its a minority
Bus stops are swamped at end of day
Sixth formers park where ever they can find space all day (which is limited, due to the residents zone...)
Noisy at end of day
Teenagers appear to have little road sense, you need to be on your toes as some wander out in front of cars.

Mum060708 · 31/08/2021 07:21

I lived near one. The worst thing was the sports pitches being used till 9pm nearly every night, especially with their floodlights on in the winter. The pupils were not so annoying and we didn't have too many parents picking up. The parent traffic is worse now we live near a primary school

Whinge · 31/08/2021 07:23

@MyOtherProfile

The great thing about living near a school is that weekends and holidays and even evenings tend to be quiet. So long as you remember not to try and leave or come home at 9 or 3.30 you should be fine but definitely go and hang out there at those times and lunchtime to see what the noise and behaviour is like.

Lots of advantages to living near a school.

It really depends on the school. In many cases it's actually much noiser after the school day has finished, as many hire out their facilities. I've also found that parking problems last much longer than 9 and 3.30. Especially with secondary schools, it can be busy from before 8am and then continue beyond 5 - 6pm depending on clubs and events.
MyOtherProfile · 31/08/2021 07:31

@Whinge yes that's why it's worth hanging out at different times to see. My experience has been very positive. Evening activities don't have any impact because the car park is kind of in the middle of the school and we can't hear anything. It's just the pick up and drop off times (about half an hour for each) that affect us - traffic, kids shouting and dropping litter etc.

HumbugWhale · 31/08/2021 07:38

I would have thought most schools would use playgrounds or staff car parks for parking for evening activities so parking shouldn't be a problem then.
We live about a mile away from a school that lets out sports facilities and in winter we can see the glow from the floodlights at night and her the odd.shout from football. It is busy when they all come out at the end of the day but they dissipate very quickly. They have all vanished I about 10 minutes!
I work in a secondary and sometimes we return from trips very late at night in coaches (e.g. from theatre or overseas trips) which I imagine can disturb locals, especially as parents all come in cars to pick them up. This is maybe 2 or 3 times a year though so not a huge problem.
Obviously it's quiet in holidays although that is often when a lot of school building work happens.

bigbaggyeyes · 31/08/2021 07:40

Parking, inconsiderate parking but if you're directly opposite then hopefully you'll have the yellow zig zags on the road

Noisy at start and end of the school day.

I had a house that backed onto a school grounds, and was on the main school road and really liked it. No noise on the evenings, weekends or during school holidays. I didn't mind the odd sports weekend or evening as it finished at a reasonable time and really good fencing onto my garden. I was never at home to whiteness the parking issues either as I worked ft:

BikeRunSki · 31/08/2021 07:47

@Whinge

How big is the secondary school, and does it have any facilities that might be used outside school hours? The local secondary near me has a sports hall which is often hired out for parties and exercise classes. So the disruption continues outside of school hours and during the holidays.
Absolutely this.

We live opposite a 600 pupil middle school (Y6-Y8). Disruption from the school is minimal, except from 8.30-8.45 pm and 3.30-3.45 pm. It’s worth it fir DS’s convenience in getting to school!!

BikeRunSki · 31/08/2021 07:49

Parking is not an issue since we campaigned for residents parking about 10 years ago. Tye school had a drop off bay and a lot of buses. Car drop offs are mostly the children from the very rural outlying villages

Original poster
BasementIdeas · 31/08/2021 07:55

Thanks, good for thought

Not worried about parking as property has a large drive (with electronic gates). We won’t be moving kids primary school so will end up doing school run ourselves, but looking at timings of the school days there shouldn’t be a clash

I’m currently WFH so sound might be an issue - what time of day are they normally noisiest? Lunch time or afternoon during PE lessons? It looks like buildings are at the front of the school (nearest the house) and playing fields are further back which might help

I’ll definitely look into if any clubs etc use the facilities in evenings / weekends, especially as everything is opening back up now

Thanks

OP posts:
Whinge · 31/08/2021 08:01

Not worried about parking as property has a large drive (with electronic gates).

Unfortunately that doesn't mean you won't have problems with parking. Even a large drive and gates will be blocked by inconsiderate parents / drivers who will only be a minute

fizbosshoes · 31/08/2021 08:02

We live near a primary and I used to love the sound of the kids in the playground when I was at home. I hated walking past an empty playground during lockdown.
My DC do evening activities at a local secondary but we use the carpark for those so it wouldnt impact local residents (presumably the carpark is only for staff during the school day) the only time I've noticed horrific parking and traffic in the evenings bear the secondaries near us is open evenings....but there might even be a move to do zoom open eves so that might no longer be a thing.

Roselilly36 · 31/08/2021 08:16

We live opposite the playing fields of a primary school, it doesn’t cause us any bother at all. More traffic obviously in term term pick up& drop offs etc. But parents are unable to park in the road, and use the side roads instead. I love hearing the children at playing at break time, when I am in the garden. We live on a fairly busy road, near the city. But due to the layout of our property most of the day we our in the kitchen/breakfast room. We have a wood at the back so it is actually pretty quiet. By the time we sit in our lounge in the evening, the road is quiet.

Iknowtheanswer · 31/08/2021 08:22

The main issues for me would be:

Parking - both my dcs' schools have issues with parents parking on kerbs, over drives etc next to the entrance, so that their dcs don't have to walk. It can be carnage.

Price- are you paying a premium for the catchment area? Great if you want your dcs to go to that school, but otherwise, is it worth it?

onemouseplace · 31/08/2021 08:26

@Whinge

Not worried about parking as property has a large drive (with electronic gates).

Unfortunately that doesn't mean you won't have problems with parking. Even a large drive and gates will be blocked by inconsiderate parents / drivers who will only be a minute

This, especially if you need to get in and out of your drive everyday to do your own school run. It will drive you insane.
essentialhealing · 31/08/2021 08:27

We live two streets from a secondary school with around 1,200 students. It doesn't effect us really but there's no way I'd want to live opposite the entrance

NapoleonOzmolysis · 31/08/2021 08:32

Has the property got a large drive and electronic gates because of the school?